An underclassman who underwent shoulder surgery in March. Good size, outstanding speed. Amazing quickness moving forward or backward. Instinctive prospect who has terrific closing speed. Will fight for the ball. Sometimes is too aggressive and bites on fakes or gets called for interference. Should go among top six picks.

Xavier Rhodes, CB, 6-2, 210, 4.39, Florida State

Exceptional size and speed should allow him to cover just about every receiver.

Likes to play press coverage and use his long arms to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage. Has excellent makeup speed. Plays the run hard. Needs to improve technique and commit fewer penalties. Adjusts to the ball well. Should go in the top half of the first round.

Kenny Vaccaro, FS, 6-0, 214, 4.59, Texas

The top-rated safety can play deep because of his range and instincts, or he can drop down around the line of scrimmage and bang on the tight ends, slot receivers and running backs. Smart player with good size but lacks ideal speed. Plays hard against the run. Sometimes loses focus because he tries to make the big hit. Should go in the middle of the first round.

Desmond Trufant, CB, 6-0, 190, 4.38, Washington

A four-year starter with good size and outstanding speed. Comes from a football family. Understands the position. Very coachable. Splendid athlete who sometimes relies on natural athleticism rather than sound fundamentals. Needs to improve techniques in the NFL. Plays hard against the run. Likes to get physical with receivers. Should go in the bottom half of the first round.

D.J. Hayden, CB, 5-11, 191, 4.33, Houston

No player’s stock is on the rise more than Hayden, who overcame what could have been a career-ending injury in practice to become a possible first-round pick. Decent size, tremendous speed and a comeback story that impresses scouts and coaches. Stays low, bursts out of backpedal, makes quick cuts and stays on his feet. Should excel at man coverage. Could go in the bottom of the first round but might last until the second.

Eric Reid, FS, 6-1, 213, 4.49, LSU

He has the kind of size and speed coaches love at his position. He’s got range and instincts. He works hard. He’s aggressive to the ball. He needs to become more consistent and be careful not to get caught looking in the backfield and becoming the victim of double moves. Should go in the second round.

Jamar Taylor, CB, 5-11, 192, 4.37, Boise State

Tremendous speed to go with an impressive work ethic. Played more off coverage in college and might take time to adjust to press coverage in the NFL. A prospect who’s sound in fundamentals and works hard to improve. Coaches have to check out a leg injury that hampered him at times. Should go in the second round.

Johnathan Cyprien, SS, 6-0, 217, 4.64, Florida International

A small-college prospect who started for four years and impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl practices. Ideal size for a player who likes to play hard all the time and get physical against receivers and runners. Lacks speed to turn and run with receivers but excelled in two-deep coverage in college. Should go in the second round.

Matt Elam, SS, 5-10, 208, 4.43, Florida

A playmaker who excelled in important games. Plays best around the line of scrimmage because he’s strong and physical and likes contact. Played deep when the coaches asked and showed solid coverage ability. Lacks ideal height but makes up for it with attitude and instincts. Could go in the bottom of the first round but could last until the second.

SLEEPER

Robert Alford, 5-11, 188, 4.38, Southeast Louisiana

An aggressive, hard-nosed corner who has all the physical skills but didn’t play against big-time competition. A hard worker who wants to excel. He likes to play press coverage. Stays low on backpedal, turns and runs with amazing quickness. Sticks to receivers, fights for the ball. Adjusts well. Plays hard against the run. Should go in second or third round.

· (bullet) Cornerback D.J. Hayden almost bled to death after suffering a freakish injury to his heart during practice. He’s recovered well enough to become a possible first-round pick.

· (bullet) Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (LSU) was kicked off his team last year, entered drug rehab, failed another test and is trying to turn around his life. He could be drafted in the second round but might last until the third.

· (bullet) Cornerback Desmond Truffant, a possible first-round pick, had two brothers playing in the NFL last season – Marcus with the Seattle Seahawks and Isaiah with the New York Jets.

TEXANS NEEDS

In his six drafts, general manager Rick Smith drafted only three safeties, none higher than the fifth round. Glover Quin, who started at safety the last two years, was selected in the fourth round in 2009 as a cornerback, where he started his first two seasons. The Texans need a young safety for Ed Reed to mentor. It’s a deep draft for safeties. Could Smith select a safety as high as the third or fourth round for the first time?